Selamat Hari Merdeka!

Today 31^st August 2008 is Malaysia’s National Day.

Usually I don’t remember this special day after living many years outside Malaysia, but this morning the Lord impressed upon my hard to pray for my country and my nation.

May Malaysia stays prosperous, peaceful and harmony as ever.. For me, as always, I am proud to be Malaysian.

Seasons in Life

“Do not judge your life base on one season”. This is the first statement that Pastor Henk preached last Sunday. Today while sitting and chatting at a open air terrace in Delft with a sister-in-Christ, we both amazed by this statement, so simple yet profound. The essence is despite of good time or bad time, , time with God is never wasted because everything is in HIS TIMING. The sermon is based on Genesis 15 about God’s covenant with Abraham.

Which season are you in right now, SPRING, SUMMER, AUTUMN or WINTER? Remember our God is always the same in EVERY SEASON.

~~~SPRING~SUMMER~AUTUMN~WINTER~~~

Melon in my Garden

This is the second consecutive year that my mum-in-law growing melon in our Garden. Here is one of the harvests.

You are my Sun Shine

Thanked God that the sun finally showed up this afternoon and hopefully it stays for the weekend ahead.

Hope

Dear Lord, Today drove all the way to Rotterdam for an intake of a project with this big company based in Rotterdam. I had a good meeting with the Corporate HR Director where we shared our experiences and views on the HR development and thought leadership. We had good conversations and our personalities matched. Father, I claimed this assignment in Jesus’ Name. Almost all the doors are shut by now and this is the only open door. Father, I want to do the 'V Project' and I asked that You grant this assignment to me, so that Your Name will be glorified. I will wait and pray patiently for Wednesday for the call that confirms I am in the game. In Jesus’ Name, I asked. AMEN

The Path of Life

Psalm 16:11

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Open Door

I am still a firm believer of “if something is meant for you; the Lord will keep the door wide open. If that is not for you, the Lord will shut the door”. Life is full of choices and each choice we decided on will change the path of our lives and results in a new destination. This week, I am confronted with project choices and I am running out of patience due to slow turnaround time. The Lord reminded me of Proverb 16.

Verse 3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Verse 32 Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

Verse 33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

I know in my heart that the best is yet to come, both the location, the client and the nature of the project is exactly what I desired and asked for and all I have to do is wait patiently for 2 weeks until I meet the client for intake interview and surely the door will remain wide open because the Lord already said so in His Word.

The Image is the property of Paulette Insall © 2001-2008

The Banquet

Last night we attended the wedding banquet of Johannes’ friends at Taiwu Restaurant, Rotterdam. The bride and groom are Johannes’ friends from CJO time. This is my second time attending the Chinese wedding banquet in the Netherlands, which usually stated in the invitation that dinner will be served from 6pm (some from 8 or 10pm) but it will never be served until 3 hours later. On the other hand, the food is always of an assured quality although menu is as rustic and static since decades ago with dishes such as suckling pork, shark fin soup, steamed fish, whole abalone, seafood bird nest, etc…

All in all, it was okay despite of lack of atmosphere . However hosting a banquet on Tuesday night where one has to work the next day is never an ideal night out (at least for me personally).

Heavenly Bed

2 days ago ( 11^th August 2008) our Tempur mattresses finally arrived! We wanted these mattresses for a few years already, but they are not cheap, the sweet dream could realize only after much planning and budgeting. Now we finally afford these. Tempur is claimed to be base on certified space technology, the only mattress and pillow recognized by NASA and certified by the space foundation. We have been sleeping on them for consecutive 2 nights now, I must say they are certainly value for money as we woke up each morning feeling that our physical bodies are completely relax as if we just came out from a body massage session.

Hopefully our tempur will bring us many years of good and quality sleep ahead.

Back to Work

After the rough patch of rather shitty office politic in May, followed by an unassigned June, and 2 weeks of Asia vacation in July, then the surgery and recovery in second part of July, finally I am back to work.

I told my career counselor (also my practice lead) last Friday that I don’t wish to travel abroad for project, and praise the Lord that I didn’t get any objection but support to remain ‘on the ground’ at least till the end of the year. This would give me enough time to make things happenJ.

I hope that by God’s grace this ‘back to work’ will be full of victories and success for FY09.

Rotterdam Dance Parade

This photo was taken yesterday (9th Aug) at Rotterdam where a dance parade was on.

Not that we were there for the dance parade but we just happened to be at one of the cinema for a movie (The children of Huang-Shi) where Johannes has gotten 2 free tickets from someone.

To me, the dance parade was the most disgusting event, there is no specific theme but just loud disco music that attracts crowds alike party animals. People were drunken, shouting, yelling and the streets were littered with empty cans, bottles, rubbish. By the time we finished the movie, the party was over, what left as a street scene is like a post modern liters. Today, the news announced that 25 people were caught during the dance parade due to various misconduct and fighting.

08082008

What make it so special today?

(1) A long waited and full of critics Olympic games grand opening in Beijing, China at 8:08 pm. Eight symbolizes and sounds like prosperity in Chinese. It is believes to be a very lucky day, let's hope it will bring more luck to China and the world.

(2) My first day of return to work after my vacation and sick leave. Hopefully 080808 will also move my career to another greater height.

Sweet Dream

I don’t know how to explain this, but I just knew that I have had a very sweet dream last night. I couldn’t recall the details but when I woke up; I just knew that the Lord has given me a very peaceful and joyful dream. So far, my own experience with dreams are usually unpleasant, stressful (if not nightmare) or when God reveals the face of someone that needs intercession or dealing, but last night was a perfect sweet dream.

The Reward from Heaven

The key verse from today's preaching.

Proverbs 22: 4 says "By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life".

Happy Birthday Johannes!!

1st August 2008

The Summer Breeze

This photo is taken on the late afternoon two days ago (30^th July 2007). It was a very hot day and when the heat took off a little in the late afternoon, we drove to the Noord Aa Lake and spent some time reading our books under the slightly cooler breeze from the lake. The Lord reminded me of His goodness through Psalm 23.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.